In a preview of what is to come, the representative of a group of developers presented their vision of what Georgetown could look like in the future if allowed to expand on lake-based water.
At a recent council meeting, Michael Hannay spoke on behalf of the Georgetown Commons, (formerly the South Georgetown Landowners Group). That group includes National Homes, Lakeview Homes, Guscon Enterprises, Town-Wood Homes, Tribute Communities and Vogue Development Group. The companies’ executives sat in the public gallery.
Together they have amassed ownership of about 2,000 acres between Five and 10 Sideroads, from Ninth Line to Trafalgar Rd.
Hannay said the number of people accommodated in the plan would depend on the degree of open space and the density of the housing selection, and the population could range from a low of 20,000 to a high of 32,000— all on a lake-based Big Pipe system.
Hannay said existing Georgetown would be the template for their development— building on connectivity of the community trails and walking paths, preservation of two large north-south open spaces, as well as attractive small town Ontario streetscape. Describing this group of developers as having good intentions, he requested an opportunity to present his concept plans in full to the council sometime in the future.
On Wednesday, June 11, Halton Region planners are expected to discuss five Sustainable Halton growth options that would determine future development of Halton Hills and Milton. The meeting is expected to pave the way for future public consultation. Two of the options on the table call for population increases in Georgetown of 20,000 and two call for increases of 40,000. A fifth option of all mixed use/residential growth would be in Milton.  
“We’re very concerned in this community about if fast growth is going to come,” Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette told Hannay.
“We want to expand, but I don’t buy the argument that this has to be lake-based because quite frankly we have a real concern in this community about lake-based water. That’s something very frightening to us all that we’re going to lose everything and end up being a larger community like Brampton to the east or even to a small extent the way Milton is growing.
“That’s the last thing that we want to see in this community. Because when you grow so quickly then you start to lose everything you valued about Georgetown in your presentation... and then not being able to control it (growth).”
Hannay warned that a plan of this size wouldn’t happen in-stantly.
“We’re not seeking to do this overnight and we can’t do it on our own; it can only happen through you (council), the guardians of the public interest. ...It’s a long-range plan... and even long-range plans must have notions of flexibility. There’s still opportunity always for governmental input. This isn’t about turning it over to the developers and letting things go wild. Decisions may have happened in Brampton but those decisions were made publicly. If you wish to deal with things differently (from Brampton) that’s your prerogative.”
The mayor questioned whether the Georgetown Commons Group would be satisfied with the selected option or whether the group would decide to challenge it at the Ontario Municipal Board.
Hannay replied there would be limited abilities to challenge.
Wards 1&2 Regional Councillor Clark Somerville wondered why Hannay was making this presentation before the growth options were released.
Hannay said they are not attempting to prejudice Sustainable Halton decisions, but “we would want to be clear that if change comes, we’re willing to think about it only within the context of Georgetown and not thinking about applying some solution that comes from someplace else (i.e. Brampton). What we’re really thinking about is a solution that is specific to Georgetown and that is clearly contingent on decisions on a governmental basis and not ours. We’re just trying to put our best foot forward when change comes.”
But Somerville, too, said that change could come at a price of impacting the very quality of life that Hannay was praising in his presentation.
Ward 2 Councillor Bryan Lewis requested that if change does come, the developers take into consideration the impact on the existing rural residents such as road infrastructure and buffers.
(Cynthia Gamble can be reached at
cgamble@independentfreepress.com)